On Monday, the authority's volunteer Board of Commissioners voted to hire SKT Architects to design a modern, waterproof exterior for the six-story apartment building on Greene Street.

The board's preferred design is the most expensive of three possible options presented at a work session earlier this month.

SKT estimates it will cost $2.2 million to give the Nixon-era building a townhouse feel with larger windows and a mix of exterior colors and materials similar to the nearby Belk Hudson Lofts apartment building. The design also includes replacing all windows and window-mounted air conditioners and new roofing in leak-prone areas.